CLITHEROE captain Neil Bolton has launched a 'charm offensive' ahead of his side's clash with league-leaders Barnoldswick tomorrow.

Bolton, whose side have won three and lost two of their opening five games, reckons Barlick look good bets for the Jennings Ribblesdale League title following the capture of exciting professional Clinton Peake.

But after building up their hopes off the pitch, Bolton now hopes to put a huge dent in them on it as he goes in search of the victory required to ignite Clitheroe's season.

"They seem to have got themselves a cracking pro," said Bolton, on the eve of their meeting at Victory Park.

"I don't think he has failed yet so maybe he is due to against us!

"They have always had five or six decent amateurs but for the last three or four years their pro hasn't been anything special.

"However, Clinton Peake looks like a good one. They could dominate this year like we did when we had Ian Wrigglesworth, but I hope they don't.

"The thing about Barnoldswick is that they know how to play cricket the right way.

"They are very aggressive and noisy out on the field but they are great in the bar afterwards.

"If there are cross words spoken they are instantly forgotten once we get in the bar.

"We have a decent record against them and hopefully we can spring a surprise on them tomorrow."

It's 10 years since Barlick last lifted the title, while Clitheroe haven't tasted championship success since 1994.

But if Bolton and his team-mates are to improve on that record then he believes it's time some of his younger players came of age.

"Apart from the pro, I'm the oldest in our team at 32 and some of our younger lads are still learning that you can't go out and get wasted on a Friday night and still play decent cricket the next day," said Bolton.

"I won't name names but I got a text message last Saturday morning saying one of my younger players had been spotted throwing up outside Rendezvous nightclub in Whalley at 12.30 the night before.

"He denied it but then tripped himself up on it later on!

"They are not as bad as they were last year and it's up to them but if they take their cricket seriously then they'll learn that they can't go out and do that on Friday nights.

"It took me a long time to realise that and maybe having a wife and kids helped me along a bit."

Bolton knows a victory over Barlick tomorrow could provide the momentum for a serious title challenge.

However, a defeat could also mean another season of mid-table mediocrity.

"It's a must-win game for us," added Bolton. "We are already 10 points behind Barnoldswick and to fall 15 or 17 points behind at this stage would put us at a huge disadvantage.

"Any realistic thoughts of coming top of the league would be gone because Barnoldswick would then have to lose four or five games and they don't look like doing that."

TOMORROW'S FIXTURES: Barnoldswick v Clitheroe, Baxenden v Read, Cherry Tree v Great Harwood, Oswaldtwistle Immanuel v Whalley, Padiham v Edenfield, Ribblesdale Wanderers v Blackburn Northern, Settle v Earby